The sky became dark. The streets were as damp as a marsh, but the king of the sky would be taking care of that issue.
I didn't melt all the ice quite yet, but I got all the chunks in the homes. Flinty was there, too– she appeared right after the prince left. She had just finished dumping all the water in the buildings onto the streets with a bucket. Despite my impressions of her, she was actually very diligent and a huge help. She was sitting nearby, wiping sweat off her brow.
"Thanks again, Flinty."
"Of course, I'm glad I could help. But how did all of this ice appear anyway?"
Oh, right. I didn't tell her. So I did. She had a giddy face. She would also periodically nod during my story.
"So you took down two knights again, and they were much stronger than the last two. That's Kenny for you."
Hey, where was my "that's really cool"? Ah, whatever. I finished melting the ice ten minutes later. My mana supply was low, but my legs were still standing. I followed Flinty back to her home.31Please respect copyright.PENANAmkwiBZhVtk
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I was surprised that she always knew how to get there. She even knew shortcuts, quite clever of her.31Please respect copyright.PENANAATzaEa8em3
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Once we arrived at her home she hurriedly knocked on the door. Who opened it was not Flinty's mother, but a strange man with sunglasses and curly grey hair reaching to the back of his shoulders.31Please respect copyright.PENANAhJcHum0LAU
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"Dad!?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAWR16Q3Y8OY
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Dad? Ah, I forgot he was supposed to come today.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJiZ3sblCoZ
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"Flinty! There you are!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA6W64U3det2
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Flinty jumped into her father's arms and stayed like that for a few seconds. The man then switched his gaze toward me.31Please respect copyright.PENANA8mR43emObn
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"And you must be Kenny?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAMyTp3XED1E
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"Yes. My name is Kenneth Buffalo Chambers, but do keep calling me Kenny."31Please respect copyright.PENANARvPsYP64rl
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I offered him a hand and he shook it firmly.31Please respect copyright.PENANA18x3GHo0A8
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"I heard a lot about you. Please, come on in."31Please respect copyright.PENANA7q284IBOYC
31Please respect copyright.PENANARaEmcjhqoj
I did just that. He told me to take a seat in the kitchen and I did. But before actually taking the seat, I saw a potted flower on the table. It's a Soothe-Bloom. I was about to freak out until I remembered that I told Prince Orice that I live here31Please respect copyright.PENANAp3Ak4wcQgS
31Please respect copyright.PENANAWHYGEkLAQY
Oh, right, I told Prince Orice that I live. I've made a terrible mistake. There is a card attached to the flower pot. I peeled it off and began reading.31Please respect copyright.PENANA5LUZianrop
31Please respect copyright.PENANA5hHq86pS3k
Dear Mister Chambers.31Please respect copyright.PENANAl2uExV8N1n
31Please respect copyright.PENANA71dekrzdeJ
After scouring the royal garden for a house, I have found the flower you requested me to bring. You weren't here when I delivered it, so I'm writing to remind you to visit the palace tomorrow morning at eight, as you promised.31Please respect copyright.PENANAywBer0vilW
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuo1gOd04fV
Sincerely, Prince Orice Zariel.31Please respect copyright.PENANACxqv5EvdH5
31Please respect copyright.PENANA6mE6N2KpyQ
"...I don't remember promising anything."31Please respect copyright.PENANAZhqD9ra8hC
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That aside, I'm surprised that the prince followed through. But when I think about it, it isn't all that surprising. He really, really wanted me to go to the palace.31Please respect copyright.PENANAaEhmNOX3Sj
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"I'll make sure to thank him later."31Please respect copyright.PENANAVRk3EQAzPx
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And apologize. Because I am not going to wake up so early to visit a royal palace. I sat on the table and tossed the card away and began observing the Soothe-Bloom.31Please respect copyright.PENANA1LY8yx1EPw
31Please respect copyright.PENANACPzzQppUTY
It was a majestic flower. It must've been a younger one since only three buds were below the petals when four were supposed to be present. It wasn't an issue of course, I preferred the younger ones. I hovered my palm beside the plant and began mana manipulation. Five seconds later, the flower was fully grown, and it even started excreting some liquid from the stem.31Please respect copyright.PENANA9cUCX1DuPN
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0z4z78fXXt
And, just to make sure, I let the tendril out and made a Soothe-Bloom. A miniature one popped out. Considering how small the original plant was, it was tiny, about half the size.31Please respect copyright.PENANAqJLRNnsVMU
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"Hmm... how am I supposed to make them bigger?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAAKCKv004pI
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It clearly wasn't a growth issue since they all looked and functioned like adult plants; they just weren't the same size. Perhaps it had something to do with my mana manipulation.31Please respect copyright.PENANAY5bqjzwYpI
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I thought of asking the Tea Mage. When it came to mana manipulation, he was undoubtably more knowledgeable than me.31Please respect copyright.PENANAe2Q505iQDV
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"Kenny!"31Please respect copyright.PENANARu6lWuQbBi
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMjVVzcADri
"Ah, Flinty, hello."31Please respect copyright.PENANA0ld7KVbvWy
31Please respect copyright.PENANAwrEQpRWwLP
She ran up to the table and took a seat across from me.31Please respect copyright.PENANAY1WfLSU1jR
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"Is that the plant you asked for?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAyAGMQ10qBE
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"Yes. Go ahead and take a look."31Please respect copyright.PENANAbdbCL82p6F
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I slid the pot over to her. She picked it up gently and started twisting and turning it, looking at the plant from every angle.31Please respect copyright.PENANAAZgWd1EU9D
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"Hello, you two."31Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6w79Sdh3M
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Flinty's father stepped into the kitchen. He was taking his coat off and hung it on a nearby hook.31Please respect copyright.PENANAMvGyAfBHax
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"Dad, come look at this pretty flower."31Please respect copyright.PENANANpOGrFT2Ce
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"Alright sweetie, just give me a second."31Please respect copyright.PENANA7k0t48hSAm
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He stretched his arms and took a seat by us. He grabbed the pot out of Flinty's hands just a little too forcefully.31Please respect copyright.PENANAZHsEtOVPey
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"Please don't drop it or something."31Please respect copyright.PENANAe5h8NW1LBa
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"Don't worry chum, I can handle a little pottery."31Please respect copyright.PENANAcZBdVVtQgy
31Please respect copyright.PENANAVCizuqJbcw
Pottery? That was frankly insulting, but I didn't vocalize it.31Please respect copyright.PENANAGDACkTASAp
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"Did you ever see one of these on your travels, Dad?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAdtZ1lNm5ep
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"Nope, nothing like it. It's a beautiful flower. I can't believe the prince himself delivered it here. What'd you do to get this, huh Kenny? It better not be anything bad."31Please respect copyright.PENANAJa8Xq4RmPl
31Please respect copyright.PENANAxFK8iN9bUr
"Oh no no no, we uh, had an agreement."31Please respect copyright.PENANA0kMSauTcIj
31Please respect copyright.PENANADrqdTv6PDQ
"And you asked for... a flower?"31Please respect copyright.PENANA3ccrbFgaLj
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"It's not just a flower! It's a Soothe-Bloom!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAHpBG04URGB
31Please respect copyright.PENANAsT3Pb0SNjT
Flinty's dad inspected the flower again.31Please respect copyright.PENANAmANdYRgdbE
31Please respect copyright.PENANA5ewjFN4AEL
"I dunno kid, looks like a flower to me."31Please respect copyright.PENANA6diToeF4LJ
31Please respect copyright.PENANAO2c1q4jJAK
"Arg! You...!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAaxzM037bvk
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Alright, I tried to restrain myself, but now he was getting on my nerves. I didn't want to do anything rash in front of Flinty though, so I just sat down with arms crossed.31Please respect copyright.PENANAGzkDUoxY4O
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"Ah, I didn't mean to insult ya. Sorry chum."31Please respect copyright.PENANA4pl5OHDXKO
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"Whatever."31Please respect copyright.PENANAiAV0QbakXT
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We sat in silence for a minute.31Please respect copyright.PENANAqxZFFVcF3L
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"So... Flinty, you wanna hear about this cool animal I found?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAvE88zfPGRA
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"Yes! Please tell me!"31Please respect copyright.PENANATKscV98sG0
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Cool animal? Oh right, Flinty mentioned something about traveling. I was looking away, but I perked my ears.31Please respect copyright.PENANAHNT9OPvgPm
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"I was going to the Eastern country you see, and on my way there, I found a rabbit walking on its hind legs! See, I was going to–"31Please respect copyright.PENANAUbzNcEmXkz
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcUIZX3YKhm
"Wait, Eastern country?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAT3iSxKMbIM
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I faced the old man.31Please respect copyright.PENANAbpYYpHMFdJ
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"Yeah, one of the four countries of King's Peak. Don't you know?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAWOlCJWMEMa
31Please respect copyright.PENANAxttZ2C7Bxn
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANADc6iCmtyAb
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"Yikes, where did you grow up?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAdRvF8jEVUY
31Please respect copyright.PENANAb83cGvSjSF
"...Buffalo village."31Please respect copyright.PENANAGkOl4jLfhO
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"Ah, that makes sense. The people there are total hillbillies."31Please respect copyright.PENANA9pdprMX5AR
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I didn't know what that word meant, but I could tell it wasn't anything good.31Please respect copyright.PENANA0O5TG0i2a9
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"Kenny," started Flinty, "you don't know about the four countries?"31Please respect copyright.PENANASpOv6u3nHW
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"No, because I'm apparently a hillbilly."31Please respect copyright.PENANAjXN6TdQx0b
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Flinty chuckled a little. I was in a better mood now.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkVKrOTm9fr
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"Can I explain this one, Dad?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAC0nQ5LtoHM
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"Go ahead. I'll go fetch your mother."31Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1TidCsGSH
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Flinty's dad thankfully left the table.31Please respect copyright.PENANAQAeK0OASYm
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"See Kenny, King's Peak is a big mountain. It's so big that four different countries are on it. We're the southern country, but there's also western, northern, and eastern."31Please respect copyright.PENANAVrm2cd6RvR
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I nodded along.31Please respect copyright.PENANAEuCLcBnKL9
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"Our country has three main kingdoms. Zariel is the smallest by far, but I think it's pretty cozy thanks to that."31Please respect copyright.PENANAWVDxbVG9jS
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I wouldn't say cozy, Flinty. But it's not like she was the one getting tailed by a stubborn, idiot prince. It was a nice city otherwise.31Please respect copyright.PENANApBa528C9CE
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"My dad works as a mail carrier. It's a pretty hard job. I barely see him, but he always has awesome stories when he gets back!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAiaCz06Hs5d
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"Really? I think it's pretty obvious that walking rabbit was made-up."31Please respect copyright.PENANAHXNGRSnF0o
31Please respect copyright.PENANA8rP6EqAyGV
She blinked blankly.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkL1HeGy5x5
31Please respect copyright.PENANAOc5b86EHPZ
"Wait, is it?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAr0Hyh4O39Y
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I chortled. Of course it was, Flinty. Rabbits can't walk on their hind legs.31Please respect copyright.PENANANe2JDPc9eX
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdIUxVyOeaY
"No, maybe it is true."31Please respect copyright.PENANAkaWJo8mPFh
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"O-Oh, okay."31Please respect copyright.PENANAM5HUwaPjdK
31Please respect copyright.PENANApH5EQKSNpq
"Ah, Flinty, Kenny!" A woman's voice that I recognized called out. Julie was there with her husband.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkyBDYmixe0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAE7tV0XpWcN
"How was your guys' day?"31Please respect copyright.PENANASFmfm3xmxw
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"Mom, you should've been there!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAGfe2TqMNv1
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And then, that's when dinner officially started. Flinty told a (very) exaggerated recounting of today's events, and I occasionally interrupted to correct her or add some information. Julie looked surprised by the size of my ice cone, but other than that, she had a happy face listening.31Please respect copyright.PENANAByvn1qos4Z
31Please respect copyright.PENANAV3UnVY2B63
I found out what Flinty's father's name was: Connor. He looked like a Connor, which didn't make sense, but it made sense to me. The four of us had tea, potatoes and chicken, and honestly, I didn't talk all that much, but the three family members did.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkBheBgVxit
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It made me feel a little alienated. But I was also happy. I didn't want to spoil this rare visit of Connor's, so I just sat there and ate my food. It was nice. Julie was a good cook. And though my heart wouldn't admit it, better than... my mother.31Please respect copyright.PENANAaxDH4DFTru
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I sighed. Damn it. I finished my food and stood up, carrying the plate and silverware to the kitchen sink.31Please respect copyright.PENANAr0uWcxFW3E
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"Huh, Kenny?" Flinty asked.31Please respect copyright.PENANA4PdEkC0lfO
31Please respect copyright.PENANAt4wuOS1Ak7
"I'm gonna clean my dishes and head to bed. Have fun with your dad, Flinty."31Please respect copyright.PENANA9fv7SQ4VNe
31Please respect copyright.PENANAfs7BSnzkwN
"O-Okay."31Please respect copyright.PENANAh8WvYZU8Io
31Please respect copyright.PENANAJb8jTRzvfn
"Hold on chum, you come back here."31Please respect copyright.PENANA9oS4cumHMU
31Please respect copyright.PENANApq4KivEmK1
Huh? Where was this coming from? I pretended to not hear him, but then the man actually got up and grabbed me.31Please respect copyright.PENANAYPJVItZeA9
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"W-Woah! What's the meaning of this!?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAirH6N2ZO3V
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He sat me right back down in my chair.31Please respect copyright.PENANA0KwwAsuNb4
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"You're not leaving 'till we say so!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAkO1zdkIKnQ
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The other two were laughing. I didn't get it. Why were you people laughing? And why was the dad suddenly laughing along?31Please respect copyright.PENANAVNg1lelvoA
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"...Uh, hehehe... he?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAiPtlOT7wsx
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Nobody even heard my "laugh."31Please respect copyright.PENANAf5DMnQd8Kq
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"So Kenny, I heard from the wife that you're pretty impressive. What's the praise for?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAepu8pF8xxD
31Please respect copyright.PENANAZsHngUUsyx
"Ah, well, I'd like to stay modest..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAj4N6SjTC7n
31Please respect copyright.PENANADlzdOdyvZQ
"Gotcha. Flinty, tell me what the praise is for."31Please respect copyright.PENANApsuqOGHgdq
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Flinty, please, don't betray me like this.31Please respect copyright.PENANA9bKGjwP96Y
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"Kenny says he's going to Talbot University!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAHmQ6LdoGLT
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Connor slammed the table. I feel like this happened before.31Please respect copyright.PENANAzQKYkySySu
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"TALBOT!?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAT8wdsCKOjV
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"Yes honey, Talbot. But luckily for Kenny, he's gonna be studying here at Zariel Kingdom! Mr. Freed will be teaching him."31Please respect copyright.PENANAuDOk74gyQH
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"Wow, look at you chum. Aren't you–"31Please respect copyright.PENANA44mrskOLg3
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I slammed the table and stood up. I made the family flinch.31Please respect copyright.PENANAirDRxWGcLr
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"...I'm sorry, but I'm very tired right now. Please, let me excuse myself."31Please respect copyright.PENANA2LJCtcGJge
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I grabbed the Soothe-Bloom and headed to the front door.31Please respect copyright.PENANAPuPkKLPDa1
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"W-Wait, Kenny, where are you going?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAX5dR4Dycf8
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"Your father returned. I don't have a room to sleep in."31Please respect copyright.PENANAE5QIkC9lsL
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"We have a guest room, don't worry," said Julie.31Please respect copyright.PENANAUkoq6fMq14
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgyMDF7uGfJ
"...Oh, my mistake. Sorry."31Please respect copyright.PENANAPxTEEWKW9s
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"Don't worry. I'm sorry for pushing you when you were so clearly tired."31Please respect copyright.PENANApcuuCJFLzA
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I heard something get hit and then saw Connor clench his shin.31Please respect copyright.PENANAz37daPfjgo
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"Yep... sorry, Chum."31Please respect copyright.PENANAqkMijjazSi
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"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANACa16cPcYb4
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For a moment, I couldn't move. I was stuck staring at the family members. Julie's face was stern, and I couldn't make out Connor's expression behind his sunglasses, but Flinty looked like she just killed a puppy.31Please respect copyright.PENANA31qggV7EtQ
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"I'm s-sorry as well, Kenny..."31Please respect copyright.PENANACz0d1ibXeD
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Damn it. I should've just kept my mouth shut. I went and upset these people.31Please respect copyright.PENANAV7PYOhwwnI
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Wait, no. Damn it, I was in the right, wasn't I?31Please respect copyright.PENANATOhIwlbs7b
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I couldn't think straight. I started walking to the stairs. Before I went up them though, I remembered something I forgot to mention.31Please respect copyright.PENANATbEWGe6fQ6
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"Flinty."31Please respect copyright.PENANA1Hst9v7ise
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"Y-Yeah?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAn8xuSaic4I
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"Follow me to the Tea Mage's shop tomorrow. I'll start teaching you mana manipulation then."31Please respect copyright.PENANAm6mrnn34Ol
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Her face turned from a slight frown to a bright smile.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ1QCNJZQQ
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"Okay! Let's do it!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA1k5VNhcN80
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There we go. That's the face I wanted to see. I walked up the steps with a smile of my own and entered the door at the end of the hall. By process of elimination, it had to be the guest room. I got in and put the Sooth-Bloom on the table.31Please respect copyright.PENANAPksn6AClnS
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"...My tome is in the other room."31Please respect copyright.PENANAz1T5kExYsX
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Whatever, I was too tired to go and grab it. I took my clothes off and slid into bed.31Please respect copyright.PENANAVp93dTj3EL
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–
–
–31Please respect copyright.PENANAozr0AkfvRl
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Morning came with a cool breeze. I opened the windows up and let it blow against my face. It was nice. I was in a much better mood than last night, so I put on my clothes and rushed down the stairs. I was the first one there.31Please respect copyright.PENANAf5OEf6nbbE
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I didn't know how to make breakfast... which is quite sad now that I realize it, so I found myself sitting down at the table. I waited for about ten minutes until another person came down; it was Connor.31Please respect copyright.PENANAiXKyto7ZUa
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"Ah, mornin' Chum."31Please respect copyright.PENANAntXMos90R5
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"Good morning."31Please respect copyright.PENANAh6kIvS4MIG
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"What are you doing here all by yourself?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAPIHZ2XWzD7
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"I woke up early."31Please respect copyright.PENANAwNurKFYt2Z
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"Alright. Let me make you some food. "31Please respect copyright.PENANAkuWBcKapnR
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I had a bad feeling about this. I stayed in place and watched the man cook from behind. He looked to be cooking eggs. When he was done, he made four plates worth, and handed me mine.31Please respect copyright.PENANAbem2MEUuJw
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"You can go ahead and eat it. I'll go wake the wife and kid up."31Please respect copyright.PENANAruUu5ITuJq
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"Right."31Please respect copyright.PENANAeGugxqIfm6
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Connor went up the stairs. I stared at my plate. It looked perfectly edible, but I still had my doubts. I started with a little lick and had to blow on my tongue right after. Of course, it's hot. I couldn't even taste it.31Please respect copyright.PENANAHuUwLrwsW0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvANMT9v0Jr
Flinty and Julie came downstairs and sat at the table and started eating themselves. Flinty looked to be in an especially good mood today, but it changed when she saw the eggs on the table.31Please respect copyright.PENANA6q2yCZYXIt
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"Ah, Dad, you cooked?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAhHz60bjL0Y
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"I sure did, honey."31Please respect copyright.PENANAPmUwYnAUil
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"Oh."31Please respect copyright.PENANA9zmdEKpYZi
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Wow, her father's cooking must be god-awful.31Please respect copyright.PENANAlZ5yH7BxFq
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"Is something wrong?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAhslUoBRfAt
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"N-No, I just... I wanted to help a little."31Please respect copyright.PENANAFfht7VXl1F
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She looked embarrassed saying that, but her Father and Mother were beaming with smiles. They both went in to hug her. All the while I sat there, staring at them. They were mumbling something I couldn't hear. Flinty looked happy.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkYjBbof3z3
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Strange. Strange people.31Please respect copyright.PENANAHL3uppU0d1
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After that ordeal, the family joined me at the table and began eating. They looked happy but were eating food too quietly. It made me sweat a bit. Was this because of me? Was I making it too awkward? Or, maybe they were just a bit embarrassed since I saw that whole ordeal.31Please respect copyright.PENANAB7jHlXx1Vs
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"...I uh."31Please respect copyright.PENANAGqnzfJZaue
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Unsure of what to do, I spoke out, but it was a lot louder than I intended and now all of them were looking at me. How nice.31Please respect copyright.PENANA467JsBKz6s
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"Sorry for my outburst yesterday."31Please respect copyright.PENANA24VtlU9cRL
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I stood out of my chair and slightly bowed, leaving my sentence at that.31Please respect copyright.PENANARzvPzVN7Br
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"Oh, Kenny, please! Don't worry yourself over that," Julie said, "you were right to be a little upset. Water under the bridge, okay?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAj3I4PBi8C1
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"Water under the bridge?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAzBdv5veiak
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"Mhm."31Please respect copyright.PENANABiRhjg9wjJ
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Flinty and Connor nodded. I see, water under the bridge. I remember that phrase, back in Buffalo Village. Jackson told me it while we were talking.31Please respect copyright.PENANARAxi3JxtZ0
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Alright. I sat down, and was feeling much better. I picked up the fork and finally bit on the eggs.31Please respect copyright.PENANAnCRtC3RNZY
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They were really good.31Please respect copyright.PENANAYAlRcB90vF
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–
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After breakfast ended, Flinty and I got dressed and left the house. I was wearing the same things I'd been wearing, but Flinty had a clean brown vest on top of a short-sleeved grey shirt. Her pants were the same shade as her shirt.31Please respect copyright.PENANAVfWqVTPj9H
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"That's a nice outfit"31Please respect copyright.PENANAwLtDeWCrno
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"Thank you! I wanted something a bit lighter for today, and I thought it looked really cute."31Please respect copyright.PENANASTwPmvod0Z
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Brown and grey weren't my ideas of cute colors, but that's neither here nor there. We left the house but didn't move, because honestly, I didn't remember where the Tea Mage's shop was. Flinty sighed and told me to follow her. It was a little embarrassing, but we got there without any issues.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKth9lVJu1t
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"You know this town very well, Flinty."31Please respect copyright.PENANAhYkBP2eXg9
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"Heh. I like to go around it during my spare time. I haven't had the chance for a while though."31Please respect copyright.PENANAag2vLeQ02p
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"Ah, my apologies."31Please respect copyright.PENANAjFTuaoohWn
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"No no, I like being around you too."31Please respect copyright.PENANAi5p1iACEwt
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Aw. My heart, my fragile heart. Flinty was such a precious child, wasn't she?31Please respect copyright.PENANAzIFvLQSfAK
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"What are you waiting for, Kenny? Let's go in!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAnysbhem3Zs
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"R-Right."31Please respect copyright.PENANApqHNNI3yfs
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She was also headstrong, it seems. She opened the door to the shop and a ding resonated in the building.31Please respect copyright.PENANAgsFJ7ur67o
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"Ah, who may it be? Kenny, Flinty, is that you two?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAiedYKFheTv
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"Hello, Freed!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA7WNw8TJVd6
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"Good morning Mister Tea Mage."31Please respect copyright.PENANAIdZ3dPnTE9
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When Mister Tea Mage noticed it was us two, he gladly let us in.31Please respect copyright.PENANAc6PXKWtwQ8
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"So what business do you kids have today?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAxJrNrPOn91
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"Kenny says he's gonna teach me magic!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAZOyVfnJDhO
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"I said mana manipulation. Well, same thing."31Please respect copyright.PENANAsOpxvzmOmj
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The Tea Mage slowly nodded.31Please respect copyright.PENANAPfooJYspag
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"So why'd you bring her over here, Kenny?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAPCT8twZ28U
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"Ha, well you see, I was hoping that you'd help her out as well! Considering how you're a professor from an esteemed school, I thought it would be a good idea."31Please respect copyright.PENANAO4vBdrLtXC
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"I see."31Please respect copyright.PENANAVeu3z9NY7R
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The Tea Mage began rubbing his bearded chin.31Please respect copyright.PENANA6nLvhz4goY
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"I refuse."31Please respect copyright.PENANAd59RPqsHw2
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"Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAE0j3KISoJb
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"WHAT!?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAfOKvsXQ9zS
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Flinty sounded a bit disheartened, but I practically let out a war cry.31Please respect copyright.PENANA7S8gEd85pO
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"Wait, why not, Mister Tea Mage?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAc6Ghp3Kihc
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"Kenny, have you ever heard the saying that goes like 'if you can teach it, then you truly understand it'?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAzTkfjG1bsJ
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"...No?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAPpiViq8CUx
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"Well, now you have. It's a saying, but it's more like an axiom. So, consider this a test, Kenny. I'll watch you teach Flinty here and gauge your capabilities. That way, when the curriculum arrives, I can start you where you belong. You might also learn a thing or two while you're at it."31Please respect copyright.PENANAteHlUwtsoW
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His reasoning made sense, but I was still bummed out about it. I sluggishly turned to Flinty. She was rearing to go. I'm jealous.31Please respect copyright.PENANACYlv08aez3
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"Alright Flinty, let's start lessons..."31Please respect copyright.PENANARgZzdJqfjR
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"Hold on, follow me, you two."31Please respect copyright.PENANA1h9yIgvETe
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The Tea Mage opened a door behind the counter and motioned us to come. We went through the back, and I was exposed to a whole new world.31Please respect copyright.PENANAwgfVIejfju
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It looked like those pictures of greenhouses I saw in the tome, only that tea plants were sprawled everywhere. I thought that this was where we would practice, but Tea Mage looked at me like I was an idiot and opened a trapdoor nearby.31Please respect copyright.PENANAj3WY9fSeCH
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"Down here."31Please respect copyright.PENANASARAvVu4XH
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I was getting a little suspicious now, but before I could warn Flinty, she was already heading downstairs. I took a breath and followed her.31Please respect copyright.PENANAE2pqzQSrcA
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It was... a laboratory. There was a large red carpet with a strange design colored yellow. Three wide tables were all pushed against their respective walls, and all sorts of plants, dead or alive, were on them. It was a laboratory. As someone who's been in one, it was easy to tell, but the Tea Mage did a good job of making it look inconspicuous. As expected of the great Tea Mage.31Please respect copyright.PENANAM1cZY23Xbn
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"I'll be sitting right here." The Tea Mage said, placing his butt on a nearby stool. "You two, train on the carpet. It has anti-mana properties, so it won't be damaged."31Please respect copyright.PENANAfy737J0tPW
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Anti-mana properties? Actually, I've heard of this concept before. A magical plant called the Un-Blossom has similar effects.31Please respect copyright.PENANAuYkJsGlEkz
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Anyway, I nodded at the Tea Mage. Flinty was already sitting down on the carpet, on her knees and her hands on her thighs. Her face was full of determination. I nodded to myself and sat down criss-cross.31Please respect copyright.PENANAFElbDkMCfH
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"Alright Flinty, are you ready?"
"Yes!"
Good. That's the answer I wanted. Now, to start the lesson...
Um...
"..."
I began to sweat. How do I even explain something like mana expulsion and mana spinning? I'm not like my father, who's had–
Oh right. My father. I could just say what he did.
"So, the first thing you need to learn Flinty is the type of mana manipulation."
She frantically nodded.
"There are two types of mana manipulation: internal, and external. You can further cut it down into three categories: mana expulsion, mana sustaining, and mana spinning. The first two are all external, and the last one is internal."
Flinty swiftly raised her hand.
"Question!"
"U-Uh, yes, Flinty?"
"How does sending mana out of your body create magic?"
Wow. Curiosity; it's a pleasure to see. I'm also surprised she knew what "expulsion" meant.
"That was a good question. See, when you release mana, it is always done willingly, meaning that the mana you release is done so with Intent."
"Intent?"
"Yes, Intent. It's like a small tag of differing colors. What Intent does is make it so that, when your mana collides with the atmospheric mana, it combines and transforms into one of the four elements. Or, depending on how well you can expulse mana, you can even create mixtures of elements, like mud or steam. Mixtures are difficult to master though, since you need to tag your mana with multiple types of Intent."
"W-Wow. Can you do that?"
I shook my head no.
"I'm not that good at expelling mana, to be honest. My tendril and the plants it grows are all internal, and modifying plants becomes easy when it's something you've been doing for a long time."
"Wait, so, does that mean there are types of Intent that don't make one of the four elements?"
"...Well, you're half right. Intent isn't just fire, water, wind, or earth. It's just that, those four elements are what's in the air. Some spells outside of the core four elements happen, but that usually means that the caster needs to have a completely unique type of mana in their system, or be in a unique environment where those types of spells can exist."
"...I don't get it. Hold on."
Gah, teaching is hard. Flinty got up and asked the Tea Mage for paper and pencil, which he conveniently had on hand. She returned to the carpet and sat down.
"Intent an infinite spectrum. You can put almost any type of Intent on your particles of mana. The thing is, for a spell to be created, the Intent of your mana needs to match what's on the mana in the air. In most places in the world, the mana in the air can only make the four core elements, with few exceptions, and they do not carry any Intent. So, if you wanted to make, say, a light spell, and put light Intent on your mana, but you were doing that in the plains, then nothing would happen, you'd just be wasting your internal mana supply."
Flinty was scribbling down what I said.
"But what about alchemy and your plants? How does that work?"
"Alchemy deals with mana suspension in chemicals. Mana suspension can also be described as mana infusion. As for my plants, that is all mana spinning. Magical plants, like all things, have a type of mana exclusive to the outside world, and if you use mana spinning enough, you eventually become good at modifying them. The same goes for normal plants, at least in my case. It takes a lot of practice, knowledge, and improvisation. That goes for normal mana expulsion too, mind you."
She happily nodded and wrote that down.
"So, what is mana spinning?"
Ah, here we are. I think I can get this across in one go.
"Mana spinning is internal mana manipulation. What mana spinning does is move or modify the mana in the body of something. Poison magic, antidote magic, buff and debuff magic, healing magic, all of that is mana spinning. It takes a very skilled person to perform mana spinning on another because of how intricate one needs to be, which is why medic mages and the like are practically unseen, and why alchemy is more mainstream. You don't see schools focused on stuff like healing magic for a reason, though I hear a lot of classes are offered for self-preservation purposes. Still, it's not easy to learn. To give you an example, I've heard tales of some people being able to perform mana spinning at a range of six meters, and people like that are revered as legends."
"Wow. Can you do mana spinning on other people?"
"I... have not tried. I've stuck to alchemy for the most part. I can do mana spinning on other objects, though. That's how I tinker with the plants."
"H-Huh? But didn't you just say that's practically unseen?"
"Yes, performing mana spinning on something like a human is practically unseen. A plant is relatively simple though. Don't get me wrong, it still took years to even make a tree grow faster. Since I specialize in plants, I doubt I could do the same for something like rocks or water. Their internal mana is just too different."
She slowly nodded.
"Still, the fact that you can do it at all is pretty amazing."
"T-Thank you, but I've been doing it for a long time, it's not that impressive."
She wrote down a few more things and then put the paper away.
"Can I try mana expulsion?"
"Are you sure? I haven't even explained mana suspension yet."31Please respect copyright.PENANAwa8gZdaCa1
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"Uh, well, please? I really wanna try..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAPmppjFyMvC
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I shrugged.31Please respect copyright.PENANAByXBu1LNOM
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"Well alright, go ahead and try."31Please respect copyright.PENANAWiamIOCrxI
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With a big smile, she raised her hand and extended her fingers. She was humming deeply, and her arm was shaking, but nothing was happening.31Please respect copyright.PENANAThlaC6GjgB
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"Am I doing it right?"31Please respect copyright.PENANADDjH2UL5RQ
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"No. Sadly not. Hmm..."
How am I supposed to explain this? Expelling mana was literally beaten into me, but I didn't want to put my fists on Flinty.31Please respect copyright.PENANAqYWMPRlnjF
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"Ngh, this is hard," Flinty said, repeating the same thing she just did.31Please respect copyright.PENANAtzwjYxP4oM
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"Hold on Flinty, what's going through your mind when you do that?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAPhPFxoTLw0
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"My mind? Well, I think of shooting out mana to make fire, and then try really hard to let it out. It isn't doing anything, though."31Please respect copyright.PENANAYgVxhIYGpY
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"That's no good. How am I supposed to..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAOljnsskEzL
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I looked over to the Tea Mage who immediately shook his head no. Maybe he wasn't as glorious as I thought.31Please respect copyright.PENANAeLOAwww7X8
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"Alright, I'll just start talking and hope I make sense."31Please respect copyright.PENANATMX3sh6VHW
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Flinty quickly scrambled to get her paper back.31Please respect copyright.PENANAf9uVSt5XO4
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"No no no, there aren't any notes to take here."31Please respect copyright.PENANAswxlSYf4MA
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"O-Okay."31Please respect copyright.PENANAXhBAaRBC1r
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She put the paper away. I got up and sat next to her.31Please respect copyright.PENANA1CWgmmZ2RW
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"The big thing you need to think about when expelling mana isn't what you want to do with it, since you already have Intent. Intent is a lot more honest than you'd think. No, what you need to do– hold on, prop your arm back up. Thanks –what you need to do is think about four main things: how much am I letting out, how much control am I putting into it, how fast am I letting it out, and how do I want my spell to move? The first two are far more important than the latter two since they're required to make the spell in the first place. So, let's try them."31Please respect copyright.PENANAYs4KAjiYiF
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"W-Wait, how do I–"31Please respect copyright.PENANA6U4tDmwOR7
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"No, it's better if you feel it. Think about how much you want to let out now, then when you do, try your best to control it, okay?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAgd3uCcoo3e
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"But what if I can't let it out?"31Please respect copyright.PENANATVF1etz9Oe
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"Then keep practicing. Try not to let too much out though; you might drain your mana supply entirely, or worse, hurt yourself."31Please respect copyright.PENANAJ9M12aBCYo
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That comment made Flinty start to sweat, but she still tried her hand at it. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. She sat in silence with her arm up as I was watching her. And then, something miraculous happened. The air in front of her began to spark once, and then twice, and then over and over again until a ball of fire the size of a pebble was formed.31Please respect copyright.PENANASp7NvcPGak
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"F-Flinty! Look, you did it!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAN7e6PaPhiw
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"Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAjRZAEKpPsE
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She jumped a little, opened her eyes and, most likely, lost control.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7It6qeqCK
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The fireball suddenly grew to three times its size. Then eight times.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKCHxNU5TGl
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I messed up, getting all excited.31Please respect copyright.PENANAS9Nji0gGed
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I knew immediately what would happen. It always does with a faulty spell, and it's why my dad insisted that I practice water magic first. I was a fool to forget it now. I pulled the tendril out and shoved Flinty away, then tried to stop the spell with a Freeze-Dry.31Please respect copyright.PENANA31QfbLi9ue
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I couldn't do it in time.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkxNQ5iq8RP
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**BOOM**31Please respect copyright.PENANAFhs3Quu6u7
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The world around me faded.31Please respect copyright.PENANAONVeb7AnQD
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–
–
–
"...Little Weasel... don't go... Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAhBpQMvmNn1
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I woke back up to words that I undeniably did but swore I didn't say. I must've been in quite a haze five seconds ago. Wait, where am I? What happened?31Please respect copyright.PENANACGAigerjzH
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Oh, never mind, I remember what happened. I looked at my hands and noticed that they were burned, but as for my clothes, well, pulling the bedsheet off of me revealed that my nice brown pants became shorts with a black crispy hem. My shirt was somehow unscathed, but my jacket was missing entirely, so I assumed the worst.
"...Crap. Sorry, Anabelle. I'm sorry."31Please respect copyright.PENANAmsYonUwLSV
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Gah, I'm a moron. What was I thinking, letting Flinty literally play with fire? I hoped at least she was unscathed.31Please respect copyright.PENANApxdUrJKkbC
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"Wait, where is Flinty?"
I only just noticed that I was in a room. It had a small green hue and was unbelievably tiny. There was a desk across the bed, but I could take one step and stub my toe on it. There was a door nearby, however, so I stood up and walked out.31Please respect copyright.PENANAoZ22aOgGqe
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I was in the greenhouse.31Please respect copyright.PENANAhp38QemuKi
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"The Tea Mage must've brought me here. HELLO!? MISTER TEA MAGE?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAvBOpkeVyv5
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I waited a few seconds and heard scurrying footsteps. Out came the Tea Mage from the trap door, and Flinty right after.31Please respect copyright.PENANAtyxZ6jHqOk
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Thank God, they were okay.31Please respect copyright.PENANAZLeQUsnkwn
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"KENNY!" Flinty yelled, running across the room to me. I was suddenly in a great mood. She was holding a piece of white cloth in her hand.31Please respect copyright.PENANA1dpKSxG4P0
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"H-Hi Flinty. Are you okay?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAZDnNuOa548
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"Am I okay!? Kenny, you– you–"31Please respect copyright.PENANAC4EBFdcdU1
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She looked like she was about to burst into tears, but she managed to hold herself back. She handed the white cloth over to me.31Please respect copyright.PENANAAIEEBS9nzI
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"This is... my coat?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAtb6yb6ZtBJ
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"Y-Yeah. Freed said that it was fire-resistant, and he said that... that without it... you could've..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAgSNj1bdCLT
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Oh. I get it. I had no idea it was fire-resistant, though. Gosh, Anabelle, when did you learn mana suspension that advanced?31Please respect copyright.PENANApuu7KcTmKs
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I love you. I really do. Thank you.31Please respect copyright.PENANAITQEt8ZSCp
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"And thank you Flinty. Thank you for bringing it to me."31Please respect copyright.PENANA6jH2Ocl6Tq
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She sniffled and nodded. I grabbed the coat and put it back on.31Please respect copyright.PENANArbjMNL1ehZ
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"Jeez Kenny, you should've seen yourself after the explosion. Your whole face and legs were covered in burn marks and–"31Please respect copyright.PENANAmljHe2VU79
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"FREED! SHUT UP!" Yelled Flinty.31Please respect copyright.PENANAU652bcrjef
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"S-Sorry, sorry. Long story short, a few potions did the trick. It's a good thing we were right there. Oh, and before you ask, the lab room is fine."31Please respect copyright.PENANAYJpLm2NSZe
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I wasn't going to ask, but I guess it was a comforting thought. I managed to survive a failed fire spell at point-blank range, which is quite a feat if I do say so myself. It seems Flinty didn't see it that way, though. She was still crying– rather, trying but failing not to cry. I didn't know what to do, and I felt like it was all misdirected. I was the one who messed up the lesson, it was my fault such an accident happened anyway. But, knowing Flinty, she wouldn't take an answer like that. So I put a hand on her shoulder and patted it a few times. Hugging wasn't my thing.31Please respect copyright.PENANA4KVT5VA3y7
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"H-Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAw2CffErmqW
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"Don't worry about it, Flinty. We all mess up. You know, when I just started, I made a water ball so big it almost flooded the house. Then I got a bad beating afterward."31Please respect copyright.PENANAWShT5tQiDy
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMmfyEzKxj3
"T-That's terrible!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAZsS4kXQ8ua
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQTmnbLbwbl
Oops. Now she looked like she was actually going to cry. The Tea Mage shook his head at me.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJjgEstfiRr
31Please respect copyright.PENANAjHTCsf0eJN
"Uhm, well, Flinty..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAqKiD166ffS
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXIXG87hXHc
I didn't know what to say. Finally, the dam broke, and Flinty began to wail. Then, she hugged me, and I was showered with a sea of "sorry".31Please respect copyright.PENANA8I48JV8IAo
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQnOic0btD5
It felt wrong. It felt super wrong.31Please respect copyright.PENANANi5oZF2Jvv
31Please respect copyright.PENANAKMg58ZsiQN
–
–
–
The Tea Mage informed me of what happened after the accident. He was able to catch Flinty, but I took the brunt of the blast. He quickly used potions on me and put me to bed, and afterward, he put Flinty to rest too. "She accidentally used up all her mana and passed out", he said. I expected as much, but Flinty's recovery time was remarkable. Two hours, just a little less than how long I was passed out for.31Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZKdlha7kn
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvQma4vIeiU
Anyway, we left the Tea Mage's shop after that. Now Flinty and I were on the street, walking back home. I was enjoying the scenery, and Flinty was treating herself to a nice dose of the cobbled street.31Please respect copyright.PENANARmX7C51s46
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1gmN1OcXHC
I wasn't so dumb that I couldn't tell that something was getting to her, and I had a feeling about what it was. Still, not wanting to make her break down again, I thought of something else.
Easier said than done.31Please respect copyright.PENANABqf2ZEdlhq
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0jHGU7JXIb
The whole time, Flinty's been dictating my schedule. With her unable to keep her head up and brainstorm with me, I didn't have a clue as to what to do. What scared me though, was that my mind brushed the idea of seeing the prince, and that brief instance alone made me shudder.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkykuRQYbnd
31Please respect copyright.PENANA4bIhuATd6S
But, this wasn't about the prince. Flinty was down in the dumps, and I didn't know what to do. Come on, Kenny, what would be a good idea? What would cheer her up?31Please respect copyright.PENANAl1KxAVWTuI
31Please respect copyright.PENANA4JKKnfyEtQ
"...Ah!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAVqm0CbKbfW
31Please respect copyright.PENANALIhKW5SHG0
I just remembered something she told me about earlier. Heh, good job, Kenny, you smart man.31Please respect copyright.PENANAcwwJ22lKz6
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcZhZmtqEXs
"Flinty, I know you're a little sad right now, but how about we go explore the city?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAr1TCpDP6ba
31Please respect copyright.PENANAKZ90D69Rdt
"...Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAO35HGQph4F
31Please respect copyright.PENANA6C1JUbJQkH
She meekly turned her head to me.31Please respect copyright.PENANALgKepfYEeq
31Please respect copyright.PENANAncg5YUrQpS
"U-Uh, you told me that you like doing it, right? Since we're out on the street anyway, why don't we? I need to learn how to get around this place sooner or later anyway."31Please respect copyright.PENANAj8SFK1s4iv
31Please respect copyright.PENANAm9iABmh5SJ
She turned her whole body to me. Her eyes were wide open, but not in a bad way.31Please respect copyright.PENANAeXderSRsBL
31Please respect copyright.PENANACckatF49nz
"Are you sure, Kenny? Do you really want to go around with me?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAxq5TVX161z
31Please respect copyright.PENANAkzVjfo4HZ6
"Yeah. I'm sure. I'm very sure."31Please respect copyright.PENANAZNmUqbC1Vi
31Please respect copyright.PENANAz2cyd4zDL6
Her face quickly lit up. It wasn't as bright as usual, but she was smiling now at least.31Please respect copyright.PENANAnBd9tdkxoQ
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuDpgQl3s1r
"Okay, let's go then!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA2478WLzF8n
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0vPwPQY4f0
She suddenly grabbed my hand. She didn't start running and dragging me along, but she did speed up a bit.31Please respect copyright.PENANAU1Bku6WPSN
31Please respect copyright.PENANAJnJOEeEVWA
"W-Where are we going to go first?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAY7htgsCD3w
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHluc81ZdTq
She turned her head to me. For whatever reason, at that moment, I was glad that we were the same height.31Please respect copyright.PENANASvfURNZMUm
31Please respect copyright.PENANAH374gEdjr5
"Who knows? Let's just go somewhere! I'm sure it'll be fun!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAzW23gMK6yx
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQTSydFZadg
Yeah, let's.31Please respect copyright.PENANACYkPk7bbCM
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1xyzga9Kh
–
–
–
I didn't know Flinty had such an adventurous spirit. I frankly couldn't keep up.31Please respect copyright.PENANAPoAkNF0nO2
31Please respect copyright.PENANABypLfGj6Sh
We were just walking, but doing that for long enough will get you tired eventually. The whole time, we were traveling the streets. Flinty would point out the occasional landmark to me. Those landmarks were stores or houses of people she knew. One notable one was a large fountain in a town square that people apparently drank from. I forgot their locations almost immediately, but for this specific place, I doubt I would forget.31Please respect copyright.PENANABHoUldjEkp
31Please respect copyright.PENANAc4fb7cInfM
I had to catch my breath first, though. Hold on. Little more. Okay. I looked up. There was a large building. It was two stories tall like the rest, but it was much, much wider.31Please respect copyright.PENANAWHn2swnhwA
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXjc8ZppHkk
"This is the combatant's guild!"31Please respect copyright.PENANABSOv8Wn6VV
31Please respect copyright.PENANATuk1zjmF9M
It looked even more... no, it wasn't impressive at all. Once the fatigue wore off, the shabbiness of the place made itself apparent immediately. The big sign hanging over the entrance that advertised the building was leaning to the right, and the lone chain suspending it looked like it would snap any minute. I was disappointed, but Flinty was staring at the building with awe.31Please respect copyright.PENANA4US6UxMur9
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqN5eky5Kqo
"This place needs a renovation."31Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9Hebv3SG3
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmCIYED9ck1
"Oh, that's not it! It's just that, you know how combatant's are."31Please respect copyright.PENANAsN1oD3Bati
31Please respect copyright.PENANABpp2KjfXwm
I shook my head.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkABWr8pq2W
31Please respect copyright.PENANAaOaaSUzL04
"Ah, well, they're pretty rowdy, I hear. I guess the damage must be from them."31Please respect copyright.PENANA5LPmM3y2Rn
31Please respect copyright.PENANANbtGzZyzMy
"How did they get the sign, then? It's at least ten feet over the ground."31Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8jstWpbvk
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgu45orLzUi
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAodHp3RItGP
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgqlrCoqYsL
Flinty started to share in my disappointment, but she was trying her best not to.31Please respect copyright.PENANAxzUIgrGQ07
31Please respect copyright.PENANABe8loukeVG
"S-Still, it's an amazing place! You get to sign up and go on missions, and you get a lot of fame and money from it! Kenny, I know, you should–"31Please respect copyright.PENANA7e1OiJ2Dt4
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqokr84HaOf
"Do not even suggest it."31Please respect copyright.PENANAF5rkhOGTXm
31Please respect copyright.PENANAy7I5XuY9aW
She nodded with a sweat bead dripping down her face.31Please respect copyright.PENANAC24pjnsILA
31Please respect copyright.PENANAh08KY1u5xw
"Come on Kenny, let's at least look inside!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAYyxAoOBEUB
31Please respect copyright.PENANAEkH8taEvzh
"...Well alright."31Please respect copyright.PENANAaP4Q6MKQsf
31Please respect copyright.PENANANO3rFZWAxX
I'd usually refuse, but I'm trying to cheer up Flinty, so I held myself back. She grabbed me by the hand again and opened the twin doors to the building.31Please respect copyright.PENANALeSJXUFiM8
31Please respect copyright.PENANA73hKVxW2eC
My ears were immediately bombarded by laughter, clanging objects, and vulgar language. Fortunately, it was only coming from one table. Unfortunately, it was in the center of the building. I covered Flinty's ears, and she looked confused as to why.31Please respect copyright.PENANAU9CzhHD7mN
31Please respect copyright.PENANAChYjmT9NNx
"You aren't supposed to be hearing those words yet!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAlPjJT7owPB
31Please respect copyright.PENANAAKe9U09Kim
She pouted.31Please respect copyright.PENANA5h6X3qtQOg
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhTJb3qTA0T
"I'm allowed to hear cuss words! And I can say them, too."31Please respect copyright.PENANAh9B7eZyv5s
31Please respect copyright.PENANAKueVQepOxT
"Oh. Please don't say them, though."31Please respect copyright.PENANAkiB6m8qL45
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuH4eTX74Om
She sighed. I took it as an "I won't." Phew. I followed her into the building. We were staying very close to the walls so as to not catch anyone's attention. The loud morons in the middle were too loud for anyone to notice us. We managed to sneak our way to the receptionist's desk. A lady suddenly appeared from the left. She was in very... revealing apparel. I tried to shield Flinty's eyes, but she put a hand over mine.31Please respect copyright.PENANAkst8xIlSdY
31Please respect copyright.PENANASXCftAPHxF
"Huh? Flinty?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAm8CtnvdKkQ
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1h1lzadMRE
"O-Oh, Sorry, Kenny."31Please respect copyright.PENANAiDxPgmgCPP
31Please respect copyright.PENANAV4pYAshEug
She didn't look very happy putting her hand away. Strange.31Please respect copyright.PENANAp1oORpTbUs
31Please respect copyright.PENANAWcWKg3V9s4
"Hey, you two look pretty young, are you really trying to sign up for the guild?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAvSFA3Kku3C
31Please respect copyright.PENANAeow5HX3HCM
"Oh, not at all, miss. We were simply exploring."31Please respect copyright.PENANAVObH5MS3I0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAtflltRuWxo
"Exploring...? Hah, well, I feel bad for you suckers. This place is a pigsty. Have fun!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAzYzqNstjLy
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQVeqRu0qDx
She vanished into the space behind the counter. I looked at Flinty slyly.31Please respect copyright.PENANAr6RduS9Iih
31Please respect copyright.PENANADWm2rjvAIQ
"See? They don't give a crap about this place."31Please respect copyright.PENANASbvfOxkNta
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0WWBVNJRVt
"Hmph. I still want to look around, though."31Please respect copyright.PENANA5ny9Tc9zrt
31Please respect copyright.PENANAjqCKex4EsD
Staying close to the wall, the two of us continued to go around the room. We arrived at a line-up of stools beside an abnormally tall countertop. Someone in a black cloak was sitting here. Fishy, to say the least, but Flinty didn't think that one bit– she sat next to them!31Please respect copyright.PENANAZN9v8dmmbb
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHDGs1GWKHT
"Flinty, what are you doing!?" I harshly whispered. She looked at me and shrugged. "Is something wrong?" She said. I sighed and sat next to her while keeping an eye on the woman in the cloak.31Please respect copyright.PENANAzeO7urG7mX
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1JR3lLhbrl
"Kenny, is this... a bar?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAyYN30ReGdd
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQgPtb8eLDW
"Huh?"31Please respect copyright.PENANApynVcmPv8y
31Please respect copyright.PENANANLnqr8Lr1Y
I looked in front of me. Diamond-shaped shelves were lined with glass bottles of varying types. There was a countertop below them with loitering glasses and rags.31Please respect copyright.PENANA9cnvby9opT
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3QoDm4UzTd
"Yeah, looks like it. But where's the bartender?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAB4boLLC5LY
31Please respect copyright.PENANAp7rF0vslkj
"Over there," A third voice said. It was the cloaked person, and it was a woman's voice. She was pointing behind her at the crowd of people. A man with slick hair and a tie was arguing with the combatants.31Please respect copyright.PENANAQSKsZ5Sjgz
31Please respect copyright.PENANAsa7vMJ4Vbr
"You're right. Wait–"31Please respect copyright.PENANA8msDwoGJ8F
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmCnbvCrK55
I immediately stopped talking to her and continued staring daggers. Flinty looked a bit concerned. She turned to the woman and started talking.31Please respect copyright.PENANAoC15i63eMx
31Please respect copyright.PENANA6cTz0obkaI
"Hi, I'm Flinty, and the boy next to me is Kenny. Who are you?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAIGTbAGst00
31Please respect copyright.PENANAZvYnfzv1Ys
The woman turned her head to me, and though I couldn't make out her face under her cloak, I could tell she was trying to gaze into my soul. I hid my face behind Flitny a little, and she stopped looking.31Please respect copyright.PENANAl7OS6fu6vV
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMnlOzLwGSp
Worst of all, though, she didn't respond to Flinty's question. That's rather rude. I knew she was shady!31Please respect copyright.PENANA2u5CyaOQmE
31Please respect copyright.PENANAkLWk5EduEV
"A-Ah, well, it's okay if you don't want to say. Are you a member here?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAlIHUuclCx5
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcFl4j9iZKG
"No. I'm here for another reason."31Please respect copyright.PENANALgQ36H9wH8
31Please respect copyright.PENANAgIUgCDA6K3
"And what may that be?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAkUhk7bXxe0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAVTgoK40Moy
"None of your business."31Please respect copyright.PENANAhkhbiCErD9
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMA5YipMw1s
"O-Okay..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAfrLW9ILT68
31Please respect copyright.PENANA8hROOYCfvm
Flinty turned her head to the front. I leaned into her ear and whispered.31Please respect copyright.PENANAvAWo8GDU2K
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuiE5UpUatK
"She is super shady."31Please respect copyright.PENANACGDkVPOY4e
31Please respect copyright.PENANAF8Z4u8oQVj
"Oh, come on, Kenny. Be nice."31Please respect copyright.PENANAd511ejz0CY
31Please respect copyright.PENANASALnJhRwY9
"But she isn't being nice herself at all!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAMbfeq3L2MR
31Please respect copyright.PENANAI2UPkYXPcC
Flinty rested her cheek on her hand and gave me a deadpan look. Ugh. I stopped complaining.31Please respect copyright.PENANAhzp4Lm9eI8
31Please respect copyright.PENANAo4LU9P4l90
"So, are you here for a drink?" Flinty asked the woman.31Please respect copyright.PENANAJQan2IjmZ7
31Please respect copyright.PENANAiBqe9VtTtm
"Yes. But, as you can see, the bartender is too busy to serve."31Please respect copyright.PENANAjAJpOpCgex
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2AbCJj4AFA
"T-Then let's get his attention!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA82FN8O3Woz
31Please respect copyright.PENANAfT6Yz7zD8Y
Flinty spun the stool around to where she was facing the crowd. I put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her from opening her mouth.31Please respect copyright.PENANATcmzvbYqpn
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuXs3IQ3B2E
"Let me handle this."31Please respect copyright.PENANAXBrCMmhQ1S
31Please respect copyright.PENANALBBRtJLA2o
"W-What, why?"31Please respect copyright.PENANAkfQPQG2JKd
31Please respect copyright.PENANAPB9QIAr4Wa
"Because I know a thing or two about drunks."31Please respect copyright.PENANAxH4n81MTYY
31Please respect copyright.PENANAMElfhsTUhm
Flinty looked anxious all of a sudden.31Please respect copyright.PENANA5exTQoxVrL
31Please respect copyright.PENANAnrhw8J8ljT
"S-Sorry, Kenny."31Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zif6bGT0M
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3giPo2rKEw
I didn't understand why she was apologizing, but whatever. I got off of the stool and walked towards the rowdy combatants.31Please respect copyright.PENANA8Dap0McmWy
31Please respect copyright.PENANA1zCHICPZRu
Thank you, Father, for teaching me the dangers of alcohol. Those nights you sat me down and lectured me were precious.31Please respect copyright.PENANARq3ZTz7b8A
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhimwuKCxMa
"Hey, you guys!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAWIVWF5Bw0U
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvOXQtMflwb
They all looked at me. I wasn't ready for the pressure that came from their gazes.31Please respect copyright.PENANAZAGo9tfa4z
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdi1BOTJW4l
"Uh, mister bartender, a lady at the front wants to order."31Please respect copyright.PENANA2TebETJmlj
31Please respect copyright.PENANACrPmJdI0tM
"Oh, my apologies! I'll be right with you!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA9yaEVGISgx
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2O2Drzhv7t
The bartender rushed to the counter. I looked at the combatants, who looked to be back to their own business. At least they were quieter. I walked back to the stool and Flinty gave me two thumbs-up. The bartender asked the lady for her order and she gave it. As for us, because we were obviously underage, we were given... apple juice.31Please respect copyright.PENANAPyllGbQaPi
31Please respect copyright.PENANAUGfm8dfCnN
Hey, I wasn't complaining, and Flinty looked to be loving it. Lucky that I brought my pouch with me, isn't it? The woman got her drink and drank it. The combatants took a job and left the guild. It was peaceful. It was, dare I say, nice.31Please respect copyright.PENANAwhbVcn5wF8
31Please respect copyright.PENANAGovJ4kUdiz
"Thank you for the juice bartender," I said.31Please respect copyright.PENANAM3kkbYkKq5
31Please respect copyright.PENANA3ty6Fj7MD1
"Of course. Don't worry about paying either, you helped me die down that quarrel. It's the least I can do."31Please respect copyright.PENANApHC9JiYCor
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvx2yOEuq1A
Oh, sweet, free juice. Is what I would usually think. But I gave him two triangle Grants. It was probably five times more than that juice was worth. I got off of the stool and waited for Flinty to finish, but she was concerned with the cloaked women for whatever reason. I got back on the stool to see what was happening.31Please respect copyright.PENANARRiwcbzG68
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0GkoLQGGvx
She was looking at her mug. It was empty, meaning that she drank it, but she looked as if she'd just killed somebody.31Please respect copyright.PENANASvuFdJqWq9
31Please respect copyright.PENANA7vFPD88wma
"Here's your bill, miss."31Please respect copyright.PENANArRRZrNO0lk
31Please respect copyright.PENANA04EFi16Ma7
"...I..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAC9J3PubfAm
31Please respect copyright.PENANAYWr4M9zJYY
She was having a difficult time speaking.31Please respect copyright.PENANAeKWTHMxUXt
31Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4FKXhmEmk
"I forgot to bring money."31Please respect copyright.PENANA9l44O2Vbil
31Please respect copyright.PENANAJsGMiZMzpr
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANArYbQQ3JcNt
31Please respect copyright.PENANA6gGJdKOQ6y
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAnvCTWeO84z
31Please respect copyright.PENANAs8RK79qAeD
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAmkx1Y9zEzu
31Please respect copyright.PENANAVXAjl25nRl
I was so close. I was just an inch away from bursting out laughing. Not just because the situation was hilarious, but because I was intimidated by this person five seconds ago.31Please respect copyright.PENANAFZuuYPXctc
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2C72rfm822
Ha. What a moron.31Please respect copyright.PENANApCaDutJCkp
31Please respect copyright.PENANAeGag9bSDpP
"Mister bartender, I'm willing to work until the beer is paid."31Please respect copyright.PENANAtgZEQWLXH0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAFolMtj7uDM
"D-Don't worry miss, I can just put it on your tab. I'll need your name and–"31Please respect copyright.PENANAKfb6FV7xAP
31Please respect copyright.PENANAuarmE2fXU3
"No! I can't do that, but I will work for the beer."31Please respect copyright.PENANAxYOMIchexi
31Please respect copyright.PENANALQUcM5T4wA
The cloaked woman was standing now and bowing. My suspicions crept back; why did she want to keep her name hidden?31Please respect copyright.PENANAlmf1xFQmAX
31Please respect copyright.PENANAyOsKpdwSGp
Well, luckily, it wasn't my business anymore. We were about to get out of here anyway. I got off of the stool and started heading to the exit until I noticed Flinty wasn't following me. She was talking to the bartender about something, so I walked back and peeled my ears open. Then I heard the phrase, "I'll pay for her."31Please respect copyright.PENANAxJKppKw7rg
31Please respect copyright.PENANAWvXzRDlitR
"..."31Please respect copyright.PENANAjkJzXoaCgo
31Please respect copyright.PENANABrUpn1KecI
Darn you, Flinty. Darn you. I took my pouch out again and sifted through it and found another triangle Grant.31Please respect copyright.PENANAKvBhSpZkzn
31Please respect copyright.PENANA2AVEUN7gUu
"Hey, cloaked woman."31Please respect copyright.PENANAZVahNh3FG1
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmU6lshaJO9
Flinty and the woman turned their heads toward me. I took one of her hands– which I'm frankly surprised she let me do –and placed the triangle grant on her palm.31Please respect copyright.PENANAE3UZG9kDlt
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHaW6rtOAJk
"You can keep the change. Bring a wallet next time."31Please respect copyright.PENANArUx7txWSs0
31Please respect copyright.PENANAvqxazWH7FK
"Yes, of course. Thank you."31Please respect copyright.PENANARibzcJhTTq
31Please respect copyright.PENANAwrBtBAMVgE
She gripped the piece and bowed at me. How strangely polite. I didn't like it. She's still too fishy!31Please respect copyright.PENANAMFS5czdWGy
31Please respect copyright.PENANAR1TYeTbNMF
"Alright Flinty, let's go."31Please respect copyright.PENANATQ8egpztmZ
31Please respect copyright.PENANAxNkrbg4mn6
"Yes!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAHuf1GU1Szt
31Please respect copyright.PENANApdJNi33vrI
We were finally leaving the guild. I didn't want to come back for at least an awfully long while. Flinty was giving me a strange smile of appeasement.31Please respect copyright.PENANAhUYGSsNEvQ
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqxJujEVbuq
"What?"31Please respect copyright.PENANA79N6FanpQy
31Please respect copyright.PENANALkS5HWvBRt
"Kenny, you're awesome."31Please respect copyright.PENANAe9jffgqV3M
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqiS0ZLD0UT
I think I felt my face light up for the first time.31Please respect copyright.PENANAmGaPuhCA9l
31Please respect copyright.PENANA4sDUxy3VJN
"U-Um, Thank you, Flinty."31Please respect copyright.PENANA2WCfSgDgZv
31Please respect copyright.PENANAz6asivSNov
"Now come on, we still have a whole city to explore!"31Please respect copyright.PENANA6vMesCIvQe
31Please respect copyright.PENANAXUoDhog5w5
She ran out of the guild's doors. Her steps were quick, but they didn't cover much distance. She was enthusiastic. With Flinty, you could just tell. She wore her emotions on her sleeves.31Please respect copyright.PENANA3yCUqUAS0m
31Please respect copyright.PENANAsypbFvgd3l
She looked back. "Come on, Kenny!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAOU0oDeXMZ5
31Please respect copyright.PENANAs8WUkXnxUa
I walked over to her, and she took my hand. We walked somewhere, I didn't know exactly. All I could think about was her face, how honest it was, and how much I appreciated it.31Please respect copyright.PENANA5NXOuXMa39
31Please respect copyright.PENANADtPXcQTsXa
There was something special about this person. Maybe because we were both kids, but, I had a strong desire to keep her safe.31Please respect copyright.PENANAEG5YkhkVYk
31Please respect copyright.PENANAF2MID1MEB2
"...Is something wrong?"31Please respect copyright.PENANA0vRrKtALaM
31Please respect copyright.PENANAZNkrEFTpX4
"Huh? N-No, I'm just thinking."31Please respect copyright.PENANAHuXhCYLb01
31Please respect copyright.PENANA7jnzMJdyNx
"Think later, I'm talking to you!"31Please respect copyright.PENANAm5dVA5spsz
31Please respect copyright.PENANAnmzZ3hMsMP
"R-Right."31Please respect copyright.PENANAVpbhC5k8N6
31Please respect copyright.PENANAwfglwgC3ak
I didn't know, but I was okay with that. I'd know eventually. I was sure of it.